paramat(e)rize

[Arnold Zwicky]

On Nov 27, 2008, at 10:34 PM, i wrote:

> ...  The OED has an entry only for parameterize (and various
> derivatives) -- but, entertainingly, the citations vary between the -
> meter- and the -metr- spellings. It seems pretty clear that both
> versions are ok.
>
> [but the OED doesn't seem to recognize that.]

i was mistaken.  i see now that the OED lists "parametrize" and
"parametrise" as alternative spellings for "parameterize" and
"parameterise".  but it gives only 5-syllable pronunciations -- though
certainly it's the 4-syllable pronunciation that motivates the shorter
spellings.

arnold

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